Wrestling in the Democratic Party: the duel between Alessandro and Antonella Russo risks splitting the party

Yesterday evening, the provincial leadership of the Pd was suspended, where they were supposed to decide on the candidate. The only name on the table was Antonella Russo, but the other city councilor, Alessandro Russo, did not withdraw his availability. The tension erupted after news circulated about the decision on the candidacy for Messina, which was considered certain, even though the local Pd had not yet voted. At that point, the meeting was suspended, without an official decision.

The tug-of-war within the Pd between the two Russos (only namesakes) was already underway in the afternoon. When the Democrats had a meeting of the provincial leadership that did not resolve the issues regarding the candidacy. After a break, they reconvened at 9:30 PM, when they decided to proceed to a vote. And until 9 PM last night, a head-to-head was anticipated between the two Russos, both city councilors of the Pd, but in the end, only the name of Antonella Russo appeared in the report from the secretary, Armando Hyerace; however, the vote did not take place: everything was postponed. For the wider field, another day of waiting, then. A situation of impasse created by cross vetoes, and by a substantial unpreparedness, despite the hypothesis of Federico Basile's resignation being known since last autumn. A situation in complete stalemate, after the step back of the candidate indicated by Avs, namely the Uil unionist, Paolo Todaro.

Yesterday, the impasse turned into a clash, even risking an internal break within the Democrats. Not a good context for the party in Messina and the region. Anthony Barbagallo, regional secretary of the Pd, recently convened a meeting with party secretaries, seizing the opportunity of the Local Elections to lay the groundwork for a broad coalition, which would also include Controcorrente, Iv, Avs, M5s, Si, and +Europa. A wide field that takes its first steps in the Municipal Elections to then consolidate in view of the upcoming electoral challenges, namely the Regional and National Elections. In this perspective, it was decided to grant the candidacy to one party in the coalition. But no one was able to express a shared candidate. The most determined were those from Avs, with Todaro, who, however, did not gain unanimous support. The troubles indeed came from the local groups, and it is precisely in this context that the face-off between the two councilors, and among the factions supporting them, is taking place. A real mess that the provincial secretary, Armando Hyerace, tried to untangle throughout yesterday. Once the decision is made in the provincial direction, the ball will pass, however, to the regional table, which will reconvene at this point to ratify the Pd's choice. A choice that at this point seems likely to leave internal rifts.